Turf Talk September 9

Northern jockey Sam Spratt is back from her Busman’s Holiday in Britain and returns to action at Ruakaka on Saturday.

She reunites with one of her favourite horses Little Wonder in the open sprint.

Spratt spent the winter in the UK and had three rides for two seconds.
She also spent time with her equestrian brother Neil, who rode in the weekend’s Burghley trials.

Rawiller appeals

Nash Rawiller will lodge an appeal against a one-month suspension he incurred in Japan that threatens to derail the start to his Hong Kong contract and cost him his relationship with a Melbourne Cup contender.

Rawiller is due to start a four-month riding contract in Hong Kong on September 21, 24 hours after he is due to ride Silent Achiever in the Group I Underwood Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield but doubts now hang over both upcoming obligations.

Rawiller, who tasted his biggest Japanese success in the Group III Niigata Kinen on Sunday, was suspended until October 5 for causing interference.

Rawiller told South China Morning Post he intends to appeal the suspension.

“We won’t be trying to get the charge overturned entirely, but trying to have the suspension shortened,” Rawiller said.

Rising Romance Cup favourite

Bookmakers have installed four-year-old mares Lucia Valentina and Rising Romance as the new Caulfield Cup favourites.

However, TAB has retained The Offer as $13 favourite after a raft of impressive performances in Melbourne and Sydney on Saturday.

Sportsbet was so impressed with Lucia Valentina’s stunning victory in the Group 2 Tramway Stakes at Randwick, it slashed her price from $21 to $13 outright favourite.

And Rising Romance, who beat Lucia Valentina in the AJC Oaks and finished an impressive fourth in the 1400m Tramway, firmed from $21 to $15 second favourite.

The Offer, who ran on resolutely for fifth in the 1600m Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes at Moonee Valley, is also $15.

Sportingbet has Lucia Valentina at $13 and The Offer at $15, while BetEasy has gone the other way with The Offer $13 and the mare $15.

Mum’s the word

Dual Group One-winning mare Say No More has produced her first foal.

She delivered a filly by Redoute’s Choice on Sunday at Rich Hill Stud, who purchased the mare at the end of her racing career.

“It’s a lovely filly and Say No More will be served by Jimmy Choux,” studmaster John Thompson said.

By the Walton, near Matamata, farm’s foundation stallion Pentire, Say No More won six of her 16 starts, including the Gr.1 Thorndon Mile and the Gr.1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes.

Well-bred filly a winning chance

Typhoon Jolie will be one of the more interesting runners at Te Rapa on Wednesday following the well-related filly’s encouraging debut performance.

The three-year-old is part of the Singapore-based liver transplant surgeon Dr KC Tan’s international racing operation.

“He’s an amazing owner to work with and he breeds four or five a year and buys four or five,” his New Zealand trainer Danica Guy said.

“I get to work with a lot of colts with stallion pedigrees before they go off to Australia and it’s an arrangement I’m more than happy with.”

One of those to recently depart is High Chaparral’s three-year-old son High Council, who has been transferred to Peter and Paul Snowden’s Sydney stable following his stylish first-up win at Taupo for Guy.

On the same programme, Typhoon Jolie made her first raceday appearance and she finished third after leading until 200 metres from home.

“She’s been a slow maturer and she didn’t know what she was doing and got a bit lost in front,” Guy said.

“It’s just greenness and her work since Taupo has been so much better. She’s definitely improved she has got a lot of natural ability and gate speed.”

Typhoon Jolie is an acceptor in both the Christmas In Bechers 1200 and the NZB Insurance Pearl Series Race.

“At this stage we just want to get a maiden race victory with her as Dr Tan has got a Fastnet Rock half-brother to her going to the sales so it would be nice to get a win on the page,” Guy said.

By Shamardal, Typhoon Jolie is out of the dual Group One Patrons’ Bowl and Singapore Derby winner Jolie’s Shinju. She also ran third behind Whobegotyou in the Gr.2 Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes during a brief Melbourne campaign. – NZ Racing Desk.

Vinnie Eagle to return at Taupo

A change of plans has seen Tony Pike delay the return of Vinnie Eagle.

“He was going to go to Ruakaka this Saturday, but I didn’t want to trial him on a heavy track at Avondale last week so we’ll probably run him in a Rating 75 1300m at Taupo on Wednesday week,” the Cambridge trainer said.

“From there he’ll go on to the Hawke’s Bay Guineas and go through the three-year-old series. We don’t know if he’ll stretch out to a mile yet and we’ll have a better idea after Hastings.”